More peak-time seats on Thameslink for Beds and Herts commuters

Train operator Thameslink is increasing capacity for Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire commuters in the morning and evening peak hours when it introduces a new timetable in December.

From Monday 11 December, Bedford and Leagrave passengers will have a new faster train into London. This will leave Bedford at 7.15am and Leagrave at 7.30am, stopping only at Luton, Harpenden, St Albans - which all therefore gain an additional semi-fast morning peak service - and London St Pancras.

At Bedford and Leagrave, the new service replaces a slower train that currently leaves four minutes earlier and stops at all stations from Leagrave to Elephant & Castle. This stopping service will now run from Luton, as it was little used at Bedford or Leagrave.

In the other direction, the existing 5.36pm from St Pancras will now run faster, arriving in Bedford 10 minutes earlier than currently. This will be achieved by not stopping at Luton Airport Parkway, Harlington and Flitwick – these stations will be served four to five minutes later by a new Gatwick Airport to Bedford service, departing St Pancras at 5.41pm.

Thameslink’s new timetable will also incorporate London’s newest station, Brent Cross West. Passengers using this stop between Cricklewood and Hendon will be served by six trains each way per hour during off-peak hours and weekends - four per hour between St Albans and Sutton, and two per hour between Luton and Rainham (Kent); and by a further two trains per hour at peak times, provided by the Luton-Orpington services.

Jenny Saunders, Govia Thameslink Railway’s Customer Services Director, said: “We’re constantly listening to our passengers and local communities, and these improvements are designed to meet demand where they tell us it’s needed most, help communities grow, and attract new customers to rail.”

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